The Effect of Viral Infection on Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Children with Acute Asthma Exacerbations.

Background: Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) level is used as an aid in the diagnosis and management of chronic asthma. Its role in acute asthma remains to be studied.

Objective: To determine whether Feno levels are elevated in children with asthma exacerbations compared with baseline, and whether there is a difference in Feno levels based on PCR positive (+) (respiratory virus isolated by PCR analysis) versus PCR negative (-) (respiratory virus not isolated by PCR analysis) status.

Predictors of asthma control and lung function responsiveness to step 3 therapy in children with uncontrolled asthma.

Background: Predictors of improvement in asthma control and lung function to step 3 therapy in children with persistent asthma have not been identified despite reported heterogeneity in responsiveness.

Objective: We sought to evaluate potential predictors of asthma control and lung function responsiveness to step 3 therapy.

Methods: A post hoc analysis from the Best Add-On Giving Effective Response (BADGER) study tested the association between baseline biological, asthma control, pulmonary function, and demographic markers and responsiveness to step-up to a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS step-up therapy) or addition of leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA step-up therapy) or long-acting β₂-agonist (LABA step-up therapy).

Inflammometry in pediatric asthma: a review of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in clinical practice.

The burden of pediatric asthma remains high with one-third of patients being under- or overtreated because of the unique challenges in the assessment and management of childhood asthma. Until recently, there has been no point of care tool for assessing the underlying airway inflammation (i.e.